Urban fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy, placing supernatural elements in a contemporary urban setting.[1][2][3][4] The combination provides the writer with a platform for classic fantasy tropes,[5] quixotic plot-elements, and unusual characters—without demanding the creation of an entire imaginary world.
Precursors of urban fantasy are found in popular fiction of the 19th century[6] - and the present use of the term dates back to the 1970s[7][3] - but much of its audience was established in the 1930s-50s with the success of light supernatural fare in the movies (and later on TV). The genre's current publishing popularity began in 1980s North America, as writers and publishers were encouraged by the success of Stephen King[8] and Anne Rice.[9]
- ^ Holmes, Jeannie (December 21, 2010). "Writing Urban Fantasy, Part 1". jeannieholmes.com. Archived from the original on May 10, 2015. Retrieved May 17, 2012.
- ^ Datlow, Ellen (2011). Naked City: Tales of Urban Fantasy. New York: St. Martin's Press. pp. xii–xiii. ISBN 978-0-312-38524-8.
- ^ a b Ekman, Stefan (2016). "Urban Fantasy: A Literature of the Unseen". Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts. 27 (3): 452–469.
- ^ Ekman, Stefan (2024). Urban Fantasy: Exploring Modernity through Magic. Lever Press. pp. 10–12. ISBN 978-1-64315-065-9.
- ^ Barron, Kaelyn (March 15, 2021). "15 Common Fantasy Tropes and How To Own Them". TCK Publishing. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
- ^ March-Russell, Paul (May 18, 2020). "Urban fantasy novels: why they matter and which ones to read first". The Conversation. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
- ^ Ekman, Stefan (2024). Urban Fantasy: Exploring Modernity through Magic. Lever Press. pp. 39–42. ISBN 978-1-64315-065-9.
- ^ Morton, Lisa (July 10, 2013). "The H Word: The Horror of Small Town America". Nightmare Magazine (10).
- ^ Sinclair, H. R. (June 11, 2014). "Understanding Urban Fantasy and Its Roots".